Fun in West Texas

I live in Midland/ Odessa area, so I thought I would add a page for my local readers, where I share things to do in Midland and Odessa, or within a 2 1/2 hour drive from the area. In theory, any of these should be able to be completed in one day.

Some of these places I have not been to yet, though many I have. I am planning to get more posts up about local places and I will update this page with reviews as I get those up. Many of these would make fun homeschool outings or even just family fun days.

Midland

Big Sky Drive-in: The drive-in is a great option if you want to see the latest movies and have a large family. They have double-features, so you get two movies for the price of one, if you care to stay that late. Unlike regular theaters, bringing your own food/drink is just fine, though there is a snack bar/restaurant available, as well as a playground for the kiddos.

Cinergy Midland: Primarily a movie theater, but that’s just the beginning. This place also boasts laser tag, a sky walker rope course and an arcade.

Fiddlestick Farms (seasonal): Every fall, Fiddlesticks Farms opens to the public and features a pumpkin patch, 3 corn mazes, hayrides, kettle corn and more! They offer homeschool days and other special events.

Jumping Party: I have not been to this yet, but it is a bunch of inflatable jump houses/obstacle courses. If you kid is into that, you may want to check it out. No working website right now, but you can find the info here.

Midland County Public Library: Some may think a library doesn’t merit a mention on a list of attractions, but I beg to differ. There are two branches of the Midland County library–the more traditional downtown library and the more modern Centennial branch. Both branches have weekly story times for young children (6 and under) which include a story and activities. You can also catch a free movie and popcorn and there are other events throughout the year, like a summer reading program for the kids, Dr’ Seuss’s birthday and Trunk or Treat.

Museum of the Southwest: This 3 unit museum has fun for all ages. If your kids are elementary age or younger, you should check out the children’s museum. They have a play grocery store, restaurant and vet office. There are also rooms with books, blocks, DUPLOs and puzzles. Older kids might enjoy the planetarium and art-minded teens and adults will enjoy the art museum.

Old Miner’s Maze: Get lost in the wild west at the Old Miner’s Maze and see how fast you can make your way through! Also features a rock climbing wall, mechanical riding bull and bounce houses.

Petroleum Museum: Learning about where oil comes from may not sound all that exciting, but the Petroleum Museum actually has a lot to offer.

Susie’s South Forty: If you love amazing candy and fudge, you must visit Susie’s South Forty! They offer free samples of pretty much all of their amazing candies and sometimes they have free tours of their factory and the kids get to dip an Oreo in the chocolate fountain at the end! Tours are not available November-December, due to the holiday rush.

Sherwood Park Aquatic Center (seasonal): This is a small waterpark still has anything you’d expect at a waterpark, including diving boards, lazy river and water slides. There is also a shallow kiddie section of the pool. Beware of the strict rules, however. No photography, only white T-shirts and no flotation devices of any kind (including swimsuits with floats built-in). Open June-early August.